8th District congressional candidates Mussab Ali and U.S. Rep. Rob Menendez each expressed excitement in their own way over Analilia Mejia pulling off an upset win in the Democratic primary in the 11th Congressional District.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Congratulations to Analilia Mejia on her hard-fought and historic win. The threat that the Trump Administration poses to our state is immense and Democrats must be united in the fight to protect all of our communities,” Menendez, along with U.S. Reps. LaMonica McIver (D-10) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-12), said in a statement today.
“Analilia is the fighter the 11th District needs – from taking on the Trump Administration to championing workers’ rights – and we are proud to support her as the next Congresswoman for this district. Unifying behind Analilia is critical to our efforts for a Democratic House majority and defeating House Republicans’ agenda of chaos and terror.”
Menendez participated in events with Mejia over the weekend, as did Watson Coleman, after she upset former U.S. Rep. Tom Malinowski, the frontrunner who was prematurely declared the winner on Election Night last week by several media outlets.
Malinowski was unable to overcome the onslaught of AIPAC attack ads that clearly made an impact in the final leg of the race, which had 12 candidates on the ballot in an effort to succeed Mikie Sherrill, now the governor of New Jersey.
He was elected to two terms in the 7th Congressional District in 2018 and 2020 before losing to current Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R) in 2022, a rematch from the prior race, after redistricting.
Malinowski conceded earlier today shortly before Mejia officially declared victory.
Ali, a former Jersey City board of education president who came in fourth place in last year’s mayoral race, intimated that this win shows he has a real shot at unseating Menendez in the June 2nd Democratic primary.
“I am incredibly proud to have endorsed Analilia Mejia in this race. Her win proves that when candidates are accountable to working people instead of wealthy donors, voters respond. Analilia ran a campaign rooted in courage, community, and conviction and she won,” he said in his own statement.
The challenger also emphasized that Mejia’s victory sends a clear message to Democrats nationwide about the future of the party.
“This election should be a wake-up call. Democrats cannot credibly claim to stand for democracy while accepting money from pro-Trump, billionaire-funded organizations like AIPAC. If we are serious about defending democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, then our values must show up not just in our speeches, but in our fundraising.”
He also called on all Democrats who have accepted money from AIPAC to refund it, a message he has previously said about Menendez.
“This moment belongs to Analilia, but the lesson belongs to all of us. The future of our party and our democracy depends on who we choose to stand with,” Ali concluded.
